No prison for pair who left dog chained in garage
CLEVELAND (WJW) – 'This was not neglect. This was torture.'
The State asked for the maximum penalty Thursday for a pair who pleaded guilty to cruelty against companion animals, also known as Goddard's Law.
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Dazia Chuppa and Trevonte Epps had a dog named Duke in their care who was left in a freezing garage without food or water, according to police records.
Prosecutors called it 'brutal and intentional torture' of the dog.
'It is a crime that deserves severe punishment,' prosecutors argued.
Dazia Chuppa and Trevonte Epps entered guilty pleas during a hearing in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court last month.
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The dog was found on Jan. 4 in Euclid. Duke was chained in a garage and had no food or water, police reports state.
'They were just leaving him there to rot away,' the state argued.
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[Attached video: Previous I-Team coverage of the story]
Duke was euthanized due to his critical condition after his rescue.
'He starved to death effectively,' prosecutors said.
Protesters gathered to show support for Duke. Prosecutors said Chupa blew protesters a kiss on the way into court, 'showing her indifference' to the seriousness of the case, they said.
Epps attorney argued that he has no prior criminal history.
'He has said that there was times he would put water in the garage,' his attorney said.
'My client isn't making excuses today,' the attorney continued.
'He accepts responsibility and is remorseful,' the defense argued.
'I would like to apologize,' Epps said in court.
Epps' attorney said his client received threats. Chupa's attorney said she also received threats.
'This is a circumstance when education and training would be the best result,' Chupa's attorney said. 'Certainly not prison.'
Chupa is 20 and has no criminal record.
'Yeah I'm sorry that everything has happened,' Chupa said. 'I don't want any more animals and I really had nothing to do with this,' she told the judge.
'Community control will adequately protect the public,' the judge said during sentencing.
Both Epps and Chupa were given 1.5 years of community control, under the supervision of the adult probation department.
They are also prohibited from owning a companion animal 'indefinitely,' and will be on the Cuyahoga County Animal Abuse registry.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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